Celtics take 1-0 playoff series lead with thrilling overtime victory over Bucks

Jim Fenton The Enterprise @JFenton_ent

Sunday

Apr 15, 2018 at 9:40 PMApr 16, 2018 at 2:04 AM

Four players scored at least 20 points as the Celtics grabbed a 113-107 win at the TD Garden Sunday afternoon.

BOSTON – The anticipation level for the Celtics’ postseason had dipped significantly because of all the injuries that left them shorthanded.

The feeling just wasn’t the same in the days leading up to the opener of a playoff series with the Milwaukee Bucks with Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart and Daniel Theis joining Gordon Hayward on the sideline.

So what happens in Game 1 between the Celtics and the Bucks at a rocking TD Garden Sunday afternoon?

The second-seeded Celtics and the seventh-seeded Bucks put on a show to remember, a game so entertaining that it will be difficult to top during the remainder of the series.

There was a little bit of everything with wild swings, a sensational finish to regulation and superb individual performances.

In the end, though, it was the Celtics showing their resilience once again and pulling out a 113-107 overtime victory over the Bucks, giving the early edge heading into Game 2 Tuesday night.

The Celtics thought they had earned the win when Terry Rozier delivered a 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter, only to have Khris Middleton answer with an amazing 35-footer at the buzzer to force OT.

It was a hard-to-believe shot that had the potential to deflate the Celtics, only they bounced right back and led for most of the overtime period.

“That’s tough,’’ said Al Horford of Middleton’s shot. “I thought it was over. Everybody always says play to the last second and everything, but half a second, I figured we were good. As soon as he shot it I was like that’s good. I just had a feeling. He hit it and we had to refocus and we did that and just kept on grinding it out.’’

The Celtics didn’t let the Middleton miracle shot get to them, rebounding the way they have so many times this season.

“You just get back out and play, you’re ready to play,’’ said coach Brad Stevens. “I knew they wouldn’t hang their heads about it. Sometimes I think they’re at their best when those things happen, you know? I think it’s just a really resilient group of (men).’’

The Celtics are going to need solid performances up and down the lineup, and that’s what happened in the series opener.

Horford had 24 points (with 13 foul shots) and 12 rebounds, becoming the first Celtic to reach those numbers in the postseason since Kevin Garnett in 2012. He also added four assists, three blocks and two steals and had to guard Giannis Antetokounmpo (35 points, 13 rebounds).

Rozier hit the go-ahead 3-pointer as part of a 23-point performance, getting eight points in OT, while Marcus Morris had 21 points and Jaylen Brown scored 20. It is the first time the Celtics had four players score at least 20 in a playoff game since 1991.

Jayson Tatum showed no rookie jitters in his debut, getting 19 points and 10 rebounds and contributing key plays down the stretch.

“I think it just shows what our team’s been all about all year with a balanced attack, different guys stepping up at different times,’’ said Horford. “Obviously we don’t have Kyrie. We’ve got to find ways to be efficient. That’s what we’re doing. We’re learning and I’m glad that we were able to get this first win.’’

The game was back and forth with the Celtics going on a 15-0 run to end the first quarter and the Bucks opening the second quarter with a 24-4 blitz. There were 15 ties and 12 lead changes, and the Celtics had their hands full with Antetokounmpo and Middleton (31 points).

The shot by Middleton after at a timeout following Rozier’s shot came in the vicinity of the Celtics’ bench and was upheld after a video review.

“That is a play that we have been practicing a couple of weeks now preparing for that moment,’’ said Middleton. “Just got a good look, just tried to get open and at that point it was a catch and shoot situation. I said if I just get it in my hands I’ll just let it go and somehow it dropped in for me.’’

In OT, Horford put the Celtics in front for good with two foul shots with 2:10 to go and Tatum added a finger roll. Rozier hit five of six foul shots after that to seal the win.

Just like that, the anticipation level for the next Celtics’ playoff game has risen, thanks to a wild afternoon that ended with the Celtics rebounding one more time this season.

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